Patent GB-1365799-A (GB)
Title: Vibratory finishing machines and a method of finishing workpieces
IPC: B24B31/073
Filed: 1972-12-18
Abstract: 1365799 Vibratory finishing KING-SEELEY THERMOS CO 18 Dec 1972 [20 Dec 1971] 58234/72 Heading B3D A method of finishing a workpiece in a generally annular finishing compartment 14 having a removable closure member 32 normally closing a discharge opening 30, comprises introducing a mixture of a finishing media and a workpiece into a finishing zone in the compartment; subjecting the mixture to vibration while maintaining the same in the finishing zone to effect a finishing operation, inserting a generally vertically extending weir 24 into the compartment at a position upstream from the discharge opening and thereby causing the mixture to travel upwardly to a relatively elevated zone and pass over the weir, and removing the closure for the discharge opening and placing a generally horizontally extending separating element 26 between the weir and discharge opening whereby the mixture passing over the weir will drop on to the separating element so that the workpiece is conveyed to the discharge opening and the finishing material will pass through the element back into the finishing zone. The compartment 14 is supported by springs (18, Fig. 1, not shown) on a pedestal and vibrated by a motor, and the interior of the compartment may be lined with wear resistant material, such as polyurethane. The discharge opening 30 is normally closed by the member 32 and is releasably held in position by clamps 76 engaging flanges 92, 94 on the member. The weir 24 has a curved portion 38 conforming to the shape of the outer wall of the compartment and is formed with a tubular sleeve 40 which telescopes into a post 44 when the weir is inserted into the compartment at the end of a finishing operation. The weir is initially inserted in a position I, Fig. 3, tangential to the inner wall and is moved by the vibrating medium to a radial position II determined by engagement of the end 52 of a rod pivoted to the weir with a stop 54, the mixture then building up against the weir. The drive to the container is then stopped so that the closure member 32 can be removed by releasing the clamps 76 and the separating member 26 can be mounted in the container. The member 26 consists of a sieve or perforated screen 60 mounted between a pair of walls 66, 68 having flanges 70 1 -74 which can be engaged by the clamping elements 76 adjacent the discharge opening 30 and further elements 76 adjacent the weir so that when the drive to the container is restarted, the mixture passes over the weir and drops on to the screen, the workpieces passing to a discharge shoot 64 and the finishing media falls through the screen back into the finishing zone. A baffle 96 prevents spilling of the mixture adjacent the weir. When the workpieces have been discharged, the apparatus is stopped to permit the separating member 26 to be removed and the closure member replaced. On restarting the apparatus, the rod 46 can be pivoted to disengage its end from the stop 54 so that the weir pivots to position III and can then be easily removed from the compartment which is then ready for the next finishing operation. A door 1 to 2 is provided for emptying the compartment.